Australia now has three fully combat-ready destroyers with the American AEGIS information and control system. Yesterday, on August 15, the press service of the Australian Ministry of Defense announced the achievement of final combat readiness (FOC) by the HMAS Sydney ship-the third and last Hobart — type destroyer.
HMAS Sydney was laid down in December 2015 and launched in May 2018. In May 2020, the ship was officially enlisted in the Australian Fleet, and now it has completed a full cycle of tests and training of personnel and confirmed a high level of combat readiness. Thus, Australia has officially closed the SEA 4000 program worth 8.5 billion Australian dollars.
Destroyer HMAS Sydney
Image source: navyrecognition.com
The Australian Military Department calls the Hobart-class destroyers " the most powerful warships that Australia has ever had." The Australian destroyers are based on the frigates of the type Álvaro de Bazán, designed by Navantia for the Spanish Navy.
The length of the Hobart-type destroyer is 147 m, the displacement is 6150 tons. Each of the ships is equipped with an AEGIS system with a multifunctional Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D(V) radar and a 48-charge universal vertical launcher Mk 41, which can accommodate Standard SM-2 and ESSM anti — aircraft missiles (in the future-Standard SM-6 and Tomahawk).
